Fire alarm device for beds



March 13, 1951 N. ALLEN FIRE ALARM DEVICE FOR BEDS Filed March 7, 1949 Fig. 2.

In! unfor- Norman Locker! Allen and Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to improvements in fire alarm devices for use in bedding equipment to usual bed mattress, or the like, which will produce a series of loud noises in rapid succession if the mattress catches fire, whereby to thorough- 1y awaken sleeping occupants of the bed for escape, from. the burning'mattress and give alarm to others at a substantial distance from the bed.

Another objectis toprovide a: fire alarm device for the purpose specified which is adapted to explode with a series of loud reports of a character tending to awaken sound sleepers and give alarm to-others on the premises not affected by usual noises.

Still another object is to provide a fire alarm for the purpose specified which is inexpensive to manufacture, and adapted tobe readily embodied in the usual bed mattress without any change in the basic structure of the mattress.

Other and subordinate objects, Within the purview of my invention, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read With reference to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective, partly broken away, illustrating my improved fire alarm device,

in a preferred form thereof, embodied in a bed mattress;

Figure 2 is a, view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 2--2 of Figure l and drawn to a larger scale; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective illustrating, on a still larger scale, the manner in which one of the explosive members is attached to the main fuse.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, according to my invention as illustrated, the conventional inner-spring mattress I' of a bed 2 has embodied in at least three vertical outer walls thereof, preferably at the sides 3 and the head end 4 of the mattress, a string of explosive memhere 5 spaced apart along said sides and end, preferably equidistantly, at a distance found suitable for a purpose presently clear and connected by a main igniting fuse 5, the string being enclosed in a tubular sheath 7, preferably of fabric.

The main fuse 6 and the sheath I are of the 1 appropriat length to extend along said sides 3 and end 4, as shown by broken lines in Figure 1.

The explosive members 5 may take the form of firecrackers of the conventional type with the end fuses 8 thereof looped over the main fuse 6 and preferably twisted, as shown in Figure 3, to form a tight connection between said fuses B and 8. A wrapper 9 of tin foil, or the like, is suitably imposed on each explosive member 5, or firecracker, for protection purposes, for instance against moisture. The explosive members, 5 or f recrackers, are secured to the main fuse 5 by a binder of suitable adhesive tape IE] wound around each of said members 5 and around the main fuse 6, also as shown in Figure 3. The main fuse 6 is of the conventional hollow string type filled with gunpowder or the like, and is cross connected from one side 3 of the mattress I to the other side by cross fuses H of the same type as th main fuse B and having the ends thereof su tably connectedto said main fuseB, as shown at I2 in Figure 3.

The sheath '7 is preferably formed of a single strip of duck, or like fabric, folded upon itself longitudinally into tubular form, with longitudinal edges stitched together as at I3, and is embodied in the sides 3 and end i of the mattress I, for instance, as shown in Figure 2, in the side padding I4 and stitched, as at I5, to the outer covering fabric I6 of the mattress. The main fuse 6 with the explosive members 5, or firecrackers attached thereto, in the manner described, is threaded through said sheath 1 which, it may be explained, is of the proper size to frictionally hold the explosive members 5 against sliding therein. Suitable apertures, not shown, may be provided for extending the cross fuses II into the sheath I, and through the sides 3 of the mattress I.

As will now be seen, if the mattress I catches fire, at the sides thereof, the main fuse 6 will become ignited and ignite the explosive members 5, or firecrackers, so as to cause a series of sharp, loud explosions if the main fuse 6 is ignited at substantially any point in its length. and if the fire is started between the sides 3 of the mattress I, the cross-connecting fuses II will become ignited and substantially the same result will be attained. The reports from the explosive members will awaken any sleeper, and particularly sound sleepers not easily awakened and Warn others at a substantial distance from the bed.

The invention is particularly advantageous in awakening bed smokers who fall asleep with a lighted cigarette in their hand, at one side of the bed, or between the sides of the bed, or, who drop sparks or live ashes on the bed. When the mattress is set afire by such occurrences, a smoldering spot fire usually results which eats into the mattress for a considerable time before bursting into flames. The string of explosive members is especially adapted to be ignited by such smoldering eating spot fires, as will be readily seen, and for providing an effective alarm to awaken careless bed smokers before the mattress is in flames and to warn others of fire at a considerable distance from the bed.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufiice to ,impart a clear understanding of my invention to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the claimed as new is: V

1. In combination, a mattress for a bed, and

invention, what is a built in fire alarm in the mattress to awaken an occupant of the bed and to give alarm to others on or about the premises if the mattress is set afire, said fire alarm comprising a string of ignitive explosive members embodied in and extending along vertical outer walls of the mattress in concealed position, and including a main fuse connecting said members and extending along said walls, and cross fuses connecting said main fuse between opposite vertical outer Walls and spaced from the top and. bottom of the mattress.

2. In combination, a mattress for a bed, and a built in fire alarm in the mattress to awaken an occupant of the bed and to give alarm to others on or about the premises if the mattress is set afire, said fire alarm comprising an elongated tubular sheath of inflammable material embodied in and extending along vertical outer walls of the mattress in concealed position, and

a string of ignitive explosive members in said sheath extending along said walls including a main fuse connecting said members, said members being bound to said fuse.

3. In combination, a mattress for a bed, and a built in fire alarm in the mattress to awaken an occupant of the bed and to give alarm to others on or about the premises if the mattress is set afire, said fire alarm comprising a string of ignitiveexplosive members embodied in and extending along vertical outer walls of the mattress in concealed position and. including a main fuse, said members comprising firecrackers having end fuses looped around said main fuse, said firecrackers being bound to said fuse, and cross fuses connecting said main fuse between opposite vertical walls of said mattress.

4. A fire alarm for use in a mattress of a bed to awaken an occupant of the bed and to give alarm to others on or about the premises if the mattress is set afire, comprising a string of ignitive explosive members embodied in and extending along vertical outer walls of the mattress in concealed position and including a main fuse, said members comprising firecrackers wrapped with moisture-proof material and having end fuses connected to said main fuse, and adhesive tape wound around said firecrackers and main fuse to bind the same together.

NORMAN LOCKERT ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 152,053 Striedinger June 16, 1874 693,229 Buell Feb. 11, 1902 761,368 Flowers May 31, 1904 1,009,638 Bland Nov. 21, 1911 

